DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

Bianculli's Blog

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

The Cold Light Reader

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Dateline Donovan
Contributors

DAVID HINCKLEY

All Along the Watchtower

ED BARK

Uncle Barky's Bytes

ALEX STRACHAN

TV That Matters

MIKE HUGHES

Open Mike

ED MARTIN

Ed Martin's TV Mix

KIM AKASS

Aerial View

MONIQUE NAZARETH

MNtv

BILL BRIOUX

TV Feeds My Family

ROGER CATLIN

TV Eye

GARY EDGERTON

Must-Click TV

TOM BRINKMOELLER

Raised On MTM

GERALD JORDAN

Crossing Jordan

NOEL HOLSTON

The Grassy Noel

TVWW ARCHIVE

Contributors Archive
 
 
 
 
 
First Prime-Time TV Characters You Loved
April 9, 2008  | By David Bianculli  | 80 comments
 
women.jpgAnd now, here's something I think you'll really like...

QUESTION: Who were your first TV sex symbols?

These will depend, of course, upon your age, sex, sexual orientation and imagination. I shall say no more than this (though, perhaps, even this says way too much):

I hit puberty in the mid-1960s, just in time to be entranced by, among others, Diana Rigg as Emma Peel on ABC's The Avengers, Julie Newmar as the original Catwoman on ABC's Batman, and Barbara Eden as Jeannie's evil sister, Jeannie II, on NBC's I Dream of Jeannie.

Make of that what you will. My therapist certainly has.

So who were yours?

19 Comments

Unknown sender said:

Marlo Thomas in "That Girl." Closely followed by Meredith Baxter in
"Bridget Loves Bernie."

April 9, 2008 9:56 PM
 
 
Len said:

My first sex symbol was definitely Annette Funicello! I loved watching
'Mickey Mouse Club' and then the serials 'Spin & Marty' and 'Annette' just to watch
her grow. I even watched 'Make Room for Daddy' when she guested as an Italian
exchange student.

April 10, 2008 2:26 PM
 
 
Marlark said:

Favorite/First TV Sex Symbol:

Yvonne Craig (Batgirl).
Yvonne Craig (Batgirl).
Yvonne Craig (Batgirl).

The blood just rushed from my head. Have to sit down. Feeling. Faint.

April 10, 2008 2:58 PM
 
 
Anchorgirl said:

Who were your first TV sex symbols?

You're not gonna believe this, but... Mighty Mouse. An animated character. I know,
it's really weird, but I was three, and I thought he was swell, despite (or maybe
because of) his singing. Not long after, I started to appreciate non-animated
members of my own species, notably James Garner in Maverick, and Vic Morrow in
Combat.

April 10, 2008 4:02 PM
 
 
Chris said:

FIrst female sex symbol I remember after I first started noticing girls,
Peggy Lipton. "The Mod Squad" gave three very unlikely crime fighters. Don't
remember how much she did but she looked good doing it. As I got older and looked
back before that time there were plenty of lovely ladies but she hit me at the right
time.

(And check out our "Links" section here...for a "Mod Squad" throwback. --TVWW)

April 10, 2008 5:15 PM
 
 
Mel T said:

Wow. Richard Greico in 21 Jump Street. All the other girls were in love with Johnny Depp, but I could see right through him. He was just a flash in the pan; my Richard was not just awesome looking, but awesomely talented! (Remembering the 80's is so painful.)
(That's very funny, especially the parenthetical. -- David B.)

April 15, 2008 12:03 AM
 
 
bob said:

Gilligan he was hot! Thats a man baby, Skipper was OK also. (I've heard of the Ginger vs. Mary Ann debate, but Gilligan vs. Skipper? I'm pretty sure when I know my leg is being pulled. little buddy... -- David B.)

May 2, 2008 8:54 PM
 
 
Harry said:

Well, Bob remembered Gilligan - That took me further back to Maynard G. Krebs. From Manyard you go to Dobie Gillis (The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) - From there to "Thalia Menninger" Now there was a vision for a 13 year old. Who was and is "Tuesday Weld".

For the girls beyond Dobie there was "Milton Armitage" or Warren Beatty... (I'm right there with you with Tuesday Weld! -- David B.)

May 5, 2008 5:56 PM
 
 
ace said:

In last night's "Supernatural" season finale, Dean kills a cop who really is a demon. They have to hide his patrol car, number 54, on the roof. At some point dispatch will be asking Car 54 Where Are You? (Ooooh! Ooooh! That's a good one! Nice catch! -- David B.)

May 17, 2008 1:30 AM
 
 
Bill said:

Gotta go with David's picks- Jeannie, Catwoman (Julie Newmar) and Diana Rigg, but adding Maryann into the mix. What that girl could do with her coconuts...

September 8, 2008 2:44 PM
 
 
Ronni said:

At an early age, Rory Calhoun in those fabulous westerns, Richard Chamberlin in Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey. Later on, definitely William Shatner from Star Trek fame.

December 15, 2008 8:31 PM
 
 
Sarah B said:

I'm coming late to this site (thank you Terry Gross for having David on for his best of 2008 list)
I would start with Anne Francis as Honey West, then it was Diana Rigg as Emma Peel, Yvonne Craig as Batgirl, (I guess I like the women who seek action!)
and so on until Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and Pauly Perrette as Abby Sciuto... sigh, be still my heart!

December 25, 2008 6:03 PM
 
 
Rich said:

I'm not entirely sure who was 'First' but I know the general Time Frame and think I narrowed it down to:

Joanna Cameron from "The Secrets of Isis" - the Captain Marvel spin-off.

There was something 'exotic' or a twinkle in her eye that even as a young boy before I knew what 'Being HOT' was - I was entranced.

Others were probably:
The Pink Bugaloo - From "The Bugaloos" I loved her British accent!
Marcia Brady - "Brady Bunch"
Princess Ardala from "Buck Rogers" played by Pamela Hensley.

May 26, 2009 8:44 AM
 
 
Andrew Grutman said:

I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but on the pilot episode of Flashforward, there were at least 3 different extras. The first one was a billboard for Oceanic Airlines, the second was a bus ad for Desperate Housewives and the last one, for one unexplained reason was Seth MacFarland (Peter Griffin). Anyone else notice any others?

October 26, 2009 10:23 PM
 
 
jeff weingrad said:

Mr. Bianculli,
Hi. I have always loved your Extras and always marveled at how amazingly esoteric the nuggets have been that your readers have caught for you.
Well, I think I have, finally, found one that is worthy of the Bianculli Extras file.
At the very end of last night's "30 Rock," Tracy Morgan's character was on a Broadway stage trying to prove his Tony worthiness by reading names out of a phone book, last name and then first name.
The last name he read was: Lipowitz, Lorne.
Well, being something of a "Saturday Night Live" aficionado, i immediately thought, "Extras"!
Before he became famous as "SNL"'s creator, executive producer and sometime on-air character, Lorne Michaels' name was ... Lorne Lipowitz.
The playful name-calling comes as no surprise, considering the many connections between "SNL" and "30 Rock," including not just Morgan and "30" creator-writer-star Tina Fey, but also, to name a few, frequent "SNL" host Alec Baldwin, former "SNL"-er Chris Parnell and current "SNL" cast member Jason Sudeikis, as well as "30 Rock" boss of bosses, Lorne Michaels.
Thanks.
P.S. Congratulations on your new book about the Smothers Brothers.

March 12, 2010 2:41 PM
 
 
abby brody said:

Patrick McGoohan, absolutely. He was as cool, sexy, smart and mysterious as his show, The Prisoner.

Earlier, Dr. Kildare (swoon!) when I was 8, then William Shatner (sorry to be repetitive, but these two had eyes, lips and voices that melted women).

May 31, 2010 10:43 PM
 
 
Patrick said:

I had, and still have, a major crush on Marta Kristen from "Lost In Space." Most of the kids my age who watched the show (if they watched it at all, as it was on against "Batman") had crushes on Angela Cartwright. But, I liked the older, and more sophisticated Ms. Kristen. I finally met her, and had my picture taken with her, at a "Chiller Theatre" event back in 2002. She was as sweet as could be.

September 22, 2010 10:28 AM
 
 
Robert said:

For me it was a three-way tie between Valerie Bertinelli ("One Day At A Time"), Cheryl Ladd ("Charlie's Angels") and Lisa Whelchel ("The Facts Of Life"). I did meet Valerie at a book signing a few years ago and, of course, had to admit to my 30+ year crush on her and said that I'm sure that she hears that all the time. She smiled and replied "I never get tired of hearing it"...

October 1, 2010 1:16 PM
 
 
Dane said:

Christina Applegate.

January 26, 2011 3:49 PM
 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
PQXXE
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 4  | Go to page: 
80 Comments
 
 
Trust our expertise to enhance your online presence with links that signal trust to search engines. ---hfus6ndl
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Discover a world of cinema at our movie website where every film lover finds something to enjoy.
Stream thousands of movies spanning genres from action to romance classic to contemporary all in one place. ---fcu0a5zg
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Boost Visibility: Promote Products Build Quality Backlinks Worldwide. ---drt0mxzh
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Where Legends Are Covered
Track rising stars and iconic athletes through exclusive interviews, career retrospectives, and behind-the-scenes features—only on AJF Sports. ---fwg3t7ms
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Create watchlists to save films for later and track your cinematic journey over time.
Experience cinema on any device with our responsive design perfect for phones tablets and TVs. ---btqk6v9u
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Create watchlists to save films for later and track your cinematic journey over time.
Experience cinema on any device with our responsive design perfect for phones tablets and TVs. ---fwn3aqwc
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Your Global B2B Hub: List Products, Find Manufacturers, Dominate Markets. ---ls48xl0q
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Explore curated collections handpicked for mood themes or iconic directors to suit every taste.
Find family-friendly adventures thrilling blockbusters indie gems and international cinema with ease. ---hce6gabw
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Create watchlists to save films for later and track your cinematic journey over time.
Experience cinema on any device with our responsive design perfect for phones tablets and TVs. ---oslr6kmp
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Discover hidden cinematic treasures through our recommendation engine tailored to your preferences.
Join a community of film enthusiasts sharing insights and discussing their favorite movies. ---ldt437g1
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Inside the Locker Room ---jekugm9a
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Our website offers ad-free streaming so you can immerse yourself in stories without interruptions.
Search by title actor genre or year to quickly locate the movies that matter to you. ---vb2utoi1
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Discover in-depth articles analysis and investigative reports that go beyond headlines to uncover context.
Access local national and international news all curated to keep you connected to what matters most. ---mw81txc9
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Whether you crave laughter tears or adrenaline our diverse library has you covered.
Visit today and unlock endless entertainment where every movie is a new adventure. ---jq4jhpsd
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Our quality-first method focuses on securing editorial links from high-authority relevant websites. ---tv239wjl
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Find Manufacturers. Launch Products. Conquer Markets. ---ot7xczqb
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Build a diverse portfolio of links through guest posts resource pages vetted directories and brand mentions. ---ub3dacpt
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
The Trusted Global Network: Where Manufacturers Meet Worldwide Buyers. ---ywtkcm3y
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Promote Products. Build Links. Scale Your Business. ---dnn6adcw
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
Our platform features multimedia content including videos photos and infographics to enhance storytelling.
Personalize your news feed by selecting topics of interest for a tailored reading experience. ---ki2apeqd
Jun 11, 2025   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 4  | Go to page: 
 
 
New From TVWW

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'
By Ed Bark
 
 
 
 
Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver
By Christy Slewinski
 
 
 
 
'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy
By Noel Holston
 
 
 
 

This Day in TV History

1957: Julie Andrews Stars in 'Cinderella'
By TV WW
 
 
 
 

Dispatches From TVWW

'Extinction: The Facts' is a Sobering Call to Action
By David Hinckley
 
 
 
 
How 'Mayans' Has Been Influenced by the Show's Creator Elgin James
By Mike Hughes
 
 
 
 
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Take on Ernest Hemingway, the Man and the Myth
By Alex Strachan
 
 
 
 
In the Final Season, Sutton Foster's Liza is Now the Genuine Version of Her 'Younger' Self
By Monique Nazareth
 
 
 
 
Season 2 of 'City on a Hill' Returns with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, and Boston Corruption
By David Hinckley